Electric heaters



May 14, 1957 E. G. MlNlER ELECTRIC HEATERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 13, 1956 s [/VVENTOR:

ATTORN').

May 14, 1957 E. G. MlNlER ELECTRIC HEATERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13 1956 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEX United States Patent i ELECTRIC HEATERS Eudoxie Georges Minier, Havana, Cuba Application February 13, 1956, Serial No. 565,269

3 Claims. (Cl. 219-40) This invention relates to water electric heaters, particularly to water electric heaters for showers, and it has for its object to provide a heater of that kind wherein the very water flowing through the heater will close the electric circuit between both positive and negative poles and wherein there is provided a strip of rubber or other electricity insulating material arranged helically between and about two concentric graphite cylinders whereby the water will flow in wide helical streams about the turns of the insulating strip, the water being permitted to flow slowly through the heater so that it will enter one end of the heater and it will discharge through the other end in an already hot condition.

The invention is described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. l is an outer longitudinal view of the heater of this invention, as viewed from the front of the electric box enclosing the electrical connections.

Fig. 2 is a diametral longitudinal sectional view of same on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detailed view showing the strip of electricity insulating material helically wound about the graphite cylinder forming the positive pole with the two Bakelite platens that prevent the electric contact between both graphite cylinders and the heater metallic casing.

Figs. 5 and 6 are top plan views of the two Bakelite end platens.

The electric heater of this invention comprises a metal cylindrical casing 1 fitted at its ends in recesses 2 and 3 formed in end metallic taps 4 and 5 which are cylindrical at their point of connection with the casing 1 and are roundly narrowed at their outer portion wherein they have a central cylindrical water inlet and outlet mouthpiece 6 or 7 which are provided with an inner thread 8 or 9 to be screwed on the water supply line.

The casing 1 encloses a solid graphite cylinder 10 forming the heater positive pole and an outer hollow graphite cylinder 11 concentric to the former and constituting the heater negative pole and being spaced a relatively short distance from the central cylinder 10. At the space between both cylinders 10 and 11 there is inserted a strip of rubber or other electricity insulating material 12 which is wound in the form of fitting helical turns between and about both cylinders to seal the flow of water through the intermediate spaces between the helical turns of strip 12.

Bakelite platens 13 and 14 are disposed between the heads of graphite cylinders 10 and 11 and the inner ends of the taps 4 and 5, which have a central opening 15 and four crossed openings 16, 17, 18 and 19 for the passage of water respectively to and from the heater through the mouthpieces 6 and 7.

Through the central opening 15 of platen 13 there is inserted a Bakelite plug having a riveted head 20 fitting within a cylindrical hole 21 formed in the central cylinder 10, and the central opening 15 of platen 14 has inserted therethrough a thread reduced section 22 ending in a metal cylindrical plug 23 forming the positive pole and being held in position within a cylindrical hole 24 in the central cylinder 10 through a nut 22'. Said plug 24 has a transverse bore 25 to receive the threaded end of a metal horizontal stem 26 having both ends provided with a thread and being inserted in a Bakelite axle-box 27. The axle-box 27 is divided into two portions arranged in spaced relation opposite the opposed ends of an opening 28 in the casing 1. Said spaced portions of the axle box 27 and said opening 28 is closed by a rubber packing 29 disc interposed therebetween, the outer threaded end of the stem 26 being adapted to threadedly receive a nut 30 having a transversal hole through which passes the end of electric conductor 31 covered by an insulating envelope 32 in which there is also inserted the other electric conductor 33 for ground connection on the casing 1. Both electric connections with the positive and negative poles are enclosed in a small electric box 34 which is adjacent and in contact with the casing 1 and has an end mouthpiece 35 through which both electric conductors 31 and 33 pass, the electric conductor 33 being connected at an inner projection 36 of the box 34, which has a threaded hole adapted to receive a set screw 37. The electric box 34 is provided with two slightly curved side enlargements 38 to seat on the outer face of the casing 1 and to be secured thereto by screws 39.

The operation of this heater is as follows: The heater will not operate when no water is flowing therethrough, as the electric circuit is not closed between both positive and negative poles. When water is allowed to enter, it will How in helical streams through the spaces between the turns of the insulating strips 12 forming together with the water a long and narrow path which creates an electric resistance to the fiow of electric current at a low amperage, and electric current flows from the electric conductor 31 to a double thread stem 26, then to the plug 23 and the central graphite cylinder 10, and thereafter to the flowing water, the latter closing the electric circuit on the outer cylinder 11 and then on the electric box 34, casing 1, connection 36 and electric conductor 33.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the construction details of the heater, particularly of the electrical connections, without thereby altering the essential character of the invention, which is such as claimed hereinafter.

What I claim is:

1. An electric heater comprising an outer metallic cylindrical casing, a solid central graphite cylinder, a second concentric graphite cylinder surrounding the solid central cylinder in spaced relation therefrom, a helical strip of rubber insulating material fitted between both cylinders with the spaced helical turns of said strip forming a spiral liquid passageway and electrical connections between one electric conductor of the electric supply line and the central cylinder and between the other electric conductor and the casing.

2. An electric heater comprising a metallic cylindrical casing, metallic taps fitted on the casing ends, a solid central graphite cylinder and a second concentric graphite cylinder surrounding the former cylinder at a distance, Bakelite platens secured to the central cylinder between both cylinders and the taps, a strip of electricity insulating material fitted between both cylinders and wound in interspaced helical turns, a metallic plug longitudinally inserted in the central cylinder and having a hole having mounted therethrough a stern having a thread at both ends and passing through an opening of the casing and being surrounded by a Bakelite cylinder divided into two sections by a rubber packing sealing the opening, an electrical connection metallic box secured to one side of the outer surface of the casing and enclosing a connection for connecting said stem to one of the conductors Patented May 14, 1957 -7". ,7 2,792,487 c. a. l

of the electric supply line and an inner'connection to the wall of said metallic box closing the circuit on the outer surface of the casing.

3. An electric heater comprising a metallic cylindrical casing, metallic taps fitted on the casing ends, a solid central graphite cylinder and a second hollow graphite cylinder surrounding the former cylinder at a distance, Bakelite platens secured to the central cylinder between both cylinders and the taps and having a central opening and four crossed holes for water passage therethrough, a rubber strip fitted between both cylinders and wound in interspaced helical turns, a metallic plug inserted in a hole of the central cylinder and passing through the central opening of one of the platens and ending in a riveted end, a second metallic plug inserted in a longi tudinal hole opposite the central cylinder and ending in a reduced section secured through a nut across the central opening of the other platen, the latter plug having a *transversal hole having mounted therethrough a transversal stem having a thread at both ends and passing across an opening of the casing and being surrounded by a Bakelite cylinder divided into two sections by a rubber packing sealing the casing opening, a metallic box enclosing electric connections secured to one side of the outer surface of the casing and enclosing a connection for connecting said stem to one of the electric conductors of the electric supply line and a'second inner connection to the wall of the metallic box closing the electric circuit on the outer surface of the casing.

Referen es cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

